Apparatus for making antiskid tires and method for mounting the same



Aug. 26, 1952 c. R. KENNEDY APPARATUS FOR MAX 0 A SKID TIRES AND METHODFOR M TI THE SAME Filed March 29, 1949 2 SHEETS-SHEET l A g 26, 195"z c.R. KENNEDY APPARATUS FOR MAKING ANTISKID TIRES AND METHOD FOR MOUNTINGTHE SAME 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Filed March 29, 1949 Ma "W [miller 6 466'56715? A %Z,

Patented Aug. 26, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

APPARATUS FOR MAKING ANTISKID TIRES AND METHOD FOR MOUNTING THE SAMEChester R. Kennedy,'Lakeville, Mass. Application March 29, 1949, SerialNo. 84,046

This invention relates to apparatus for making 7 anti-skid coverings forpneumatic tiresand to a method for mounting the same on the tires.

In mypending applications, Serial No. 8,617, filed February 16, 1948,and Serial No. 25,923, filed May 8, 1948, now Patent 2,570,689 issuedOctober 9, 1951, there are illustrated methods of making anti-skidcoverings for pneumatic tires by taking a used, partially worn-outpneumatic tire shoe, cutting it across through its tread portion sidewalls andbeads and then making outouts in the tread and portions of theside walls by means of suitableformed dies in accordance with variouspatterns, as shown in my pending I design applications, Serial No. D.145,864, filed April 21, 1948, now abandoned; Serial N0.D. 292, filedJanuary 18, 1949, now Patent D. 158,668 issued May 23, 1950; Serial No.D. 293, filed J anuary 18, 1949, now'Patent D. 158,669 issued May 23,1950'; Serial No. D. 294, filed January 18, 1949, now abandoned; andSerial No. D. 295, filed January 18, 1949, now abandoned.

Heretofore all of the cut-outs have been made by hand, using die membersand a mallet for driving the dies through the tread at the proper placesand in accordance with the particular pattern selected. This is botharduous, dangerous and extremely slow so that it takes a strong man asmuchas three hours to makethe cut-,outsin a single tireshoe.Accordingly, the present in- 'vention has for its principal objects toprovide apparatus for making all of the cut-outs in the tire tread atonce, thereby eliminating hand-work and ,its accompanying dangers, whichwill effect a much cleaner and more accurate cutting operation, whichwill operate on casings of various sizes with aminimum of adjustment orreplacement of its operating parts, which will perform the cutting outoperation in a matter of three -to' four minutes as contrasted to handmethods of three to four hours, which will be relativelyisimple andinexpensive to build, and

which will be durable and safe to operate. As illustrated herein, theapparatus has a platform upon which a partially worn out casing may beplaced, a die support carrying dies arranged in the desired pattern, andpower-operated means for effecting a relative movement of the parts tobring the dies into cutting; engagement with the casing and to cuttherefrom at one fell swoop the entirenumber of cut-outs Preferably thedies are arranged above ,the'fcasing support in fixed position, andthecasing support is moved upwardly with the casing resting thereoncentered with respect" to the" dies. As the support moves up, thecasingisforcedagainst the cutting 12 Claims. (Cl. 1 5414) 2 edges of thedies, flattens out, that is, its walls 'are forced into contact witheach other and its tread bent double, whereupon the dies pass throughthedoubled tread and walls, cutting therefrom the cut-outs which are to beremoved according to the preselected pattern. Where the cut-outs are ofthe kind extending-entirely across the tread, the cut-out portion isdoubled on itself and is discharged laterally from the die by ejectormeans in the form of an outwardly and upwardly sloping wall whichdeflects the springy doubled-up cut-out as it is released from the fiat-3 tened casing so that it springs upwardly and outwardly away from theapparatus. The dies which make the cut-outs which do not extend acrossthe'tread have openings through their upper ends 4 and through: thesupporting plate so that the cut-out pieces, there being two for eachcut, will be forced upwardly through .them and through these openings,tothe top side of the support.

In'another aspect the invention contemplates amethod'of mounting theprepared casings 0n the pneumatic tire. As carried out, the preparedcasing is placed over the inflated tire, the latter being on its wheel,by spreading its walls sufficiently to slip them over the tread and sidewalls.

:,At.this point in the operation the split ends of the casing will befrom 8 to 12 inches apart. These ends are thendrawn toward each other'untilthe walls of the inflated tire in the gap between the ends beginto bulge noticeably whereupon, while still maintaining the drawing forceon the ends of thecasing, the inflated tire is partially deflated byletting out a part of its air. Following this the drawing-together forceis resumed to bring the ends of the casing into abutting engagement, theends are secured together by suitable links; such as shown in myaforementioned pending applications, and the pneumatic tire is thenreinflated. To facilitate drawing the ends of the casing togetherwithout placing undue stresses on local parts of the casing due tofrictional engagement of the surfaces, the method includes applying aliberal quantity of lubricant to the surface of the pneumatic tire priorto applying the casing, Furthermore, both during and after thestretching of the casing, the operation may be assistedby shifting theindividual tread surfaces between cut-outs along the surface of thetirecasing by applying force thereto. This maybe effected by, driving themalong with a mallet or by shifting them with a prying implefA-simpleform of apparatus for effecting the between the casing and the pneumatictire near the split ends of the casing which have outwardly projectinglugs so that the lugs extend from the endmost slots, providing traversescrews with traverse blocks for engagement with the lugs, and thenrotating the screws to draw the plates and hence the split end of thecasing toward each other until the ends abut, whereupon the fasteninglinks'may be secured in place. 7

The invention will now be described in greater detail with reference tothe accompanying drawings wherein: p

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the machine showing a casing resting onits support in a position to be operated upon;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the die cutting means as seen from theunderside looking up on the line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary horizontal section at one corner showing guidemeans for controlling the vertical movement of the casing support;

, Fig. 4 'isa vertical section through an open die fastened to itssupporting plate;

Fig. 5 is a corresponding vertical section through a die and a portionof the support for the casing showing the-casing collapsed with thediepenetrating it; I

applying the casing 'to the pneumatic tire;

Fig. 11 is 'a detail in' section showing "a plate"interposed'between'th'e pneumatic tire and the "casing with a'pin"tl'iereon for engagement wit the stretching apparatus;

Fig/121s a plan'view of the details 'oithe stretching apparatiis lookingdown on Fig. 11;

and

Fig. 13 shows a'completely mounted casing with itsendsfsecured'tog'ether onthe pneumatic "tir'e'followingthemethoddescribed.

1 Referring to the'drawings, the-machine I is "niown 'as comprisedbffourvertical legs I2- preferably l'agged at their lower ends to thefloor and ha'virig-at thir'uppr ends inwardly directed -b'rackets ldjtojthe undrsi'de of which=is fastened a head plate I 3" for"supporting the dies. To' the --iinderside of the head plate there isbolted an annular die plate [8 to 'which are weldedthe dies 20, thedetails of which will now be described.

The dies consist of alternately disposed "die -members 22 and 24arranged annularly about a common center. Each die 22 is com-prised of aU-shaped m-embe'r (Figs. 4 and'6) having-parallel walls 26, aclosed'curved end wall-28, and an j open end 28. Each-die is composed ofsuitable "cutting steel elded at tojto the underside of the platelilfand has .at its lowerend'a beveled cutting edge 32. Between theparallel walls 26 there is situated an inclined 'defiector 34, thelower" end of'which is vertically *spaced from the cutting edge of theclosed end'wall28' by anamount at least equal to the thickness of thecasingwalls,

' and the upper endof which terminates'close to "theplate if}. Thedies"24"are'closed, having parallel sides 3B and curved end Walls3'8.

The die 4 members 24 are secured to the underside of the plate ill bywelding, as shown at 4B, are made of a corresponding cutting steel, andhave beveled cutting edges 42. Openings 44 and 46 are made through theplate [8 and I6 directly above and concentric with the upper ends of theclosed dies,-

thereby forming a continuous vertical passage from the lower'end of thedie to the top of the -plate l6 through which may be ejected the circlewhose radius is greater than the inside radius of any tire casing to beoperated upon and with their outer open ends extending beyond theperiphery of the casing to be operated upon. The

' intermediate dies are arranged so that their .blade 68 will extendradialiy i-nward toward the center and is adapted to cut-radiallyextending incisions in the wall of the tire inwardly toward the head ofthe casing but not through the bead.

The casing shown in Fig. 13 illustratesthe use of'this form of diewherein singlecuts extend inwardly from the bottom of. alternatecut-outs toward the beads. Below the dies 20 there is situated a plate48 for supporting the casing which is to be operated upon. The plate 48has beveled corners 50 (Fig.

3) in which there are formed ways 52 forreception of tongues 54 formedon strips '55 fastened within the angle of thelegs I2. This arrangementprovides for accurate guided movement of centering platform 64.centering platform 64 may' be readily removed the plate 48verticallytoward the dies 20. The

. support plate '48 is fastened toa flange 58 at the 'upper end of apiston'fifiwhich forms part of a conventional hydraulic piston andcylinder. assembly 62 situated on'the floor beneath thesupport plate 48.'Admission of fluid to'the "piston and cylinder assembly '82 will raise'the'siipport plate 48 and the casing C supported thereon'v'erticallyinto engagement with the dies 20 carried "bythe head I 8. Tocenter thecasing with 'respect to the dies there is fastened to the top side ofthe supporting plate 58 (Fig.6) a centerin platform ifid'having anannular sloping edge 66. Whenthe casing is f placed on the supportingplate 48 its innercircumference defined by its beads B'wm centerthemselves-and hence the casing on'the It is evident that the andreplaced by another of larger or *smaller circumference so as toadaptthe machine to'casings of different size.

In the operation of the apparatus when the casing C is moved upwardlyinto engagement with the dies, the casing itself is first flattened, asshown in Fig. 5, so that the tread Tisbent doubleupon itself and thewalls'W are pressed into contact with each otherywhereupon furthermovement causes the cutting edges of the 'dies "IlZ'andiW to penetratethrough the walls and thetread; In thecase. of the dies 22,'the'openends of'which extend beyond'thedouble'd-over tread when thepenetration'is complete, the sevas they accumulate will be forcedthrough the openings 44 and to the top of the plate 16 from which theymay be brushed by the operator to out-of-the-way positions. Thepunched-out pieces will not fall down through the dies so as to get inthe way of succeeding operations due to'thefact that they havesuiflcient frictional engagementwith the walls of the dies to befrictionallyretained therein and only to be expelled by the accumulationof succeeding pieces therebeneath which force them upwardly.

Having cut a casing in accordance with the foregoing description on theapparatus provided,

itis next applied to an inflated pneumatic tire P, as will now bedescribed. First the inflated 'tire P is coated with a liberal quantityof some lubricant. While many different kinds of lubricant will servethe purpose, it is preferred to -use a fairly heavy oil, for example,crank-case oil. A used crank-case oil, which is normally discarded, maybe employed for this purpose. It

is to be understood, however, that a light grease or that even water maybe used for this purpose, since water has a definite wetting efiect onrubber-to-rubber contact which reduces the friction therebetween. Havingapplied the lubricant to *the walls and tread of the pneumatic tire, thesplit casing is then applied thereto by spreading its walls W-W so as toembrace the pneumatic tire. At this point the split ends E (Figs. 9 and10) of the casing are from eight to twelve inches "apart. Plates 10(Figs. 11 and 12), having pins 12 fastened thereto, are then placedbetween the'inside of the casing and the pneumatic tire adjacent each ofits split ends EE and at each sideoi the tire so that the pins extendoutwardly through 'the' last cut-outs formed therein. Stretching devicesare then applied to each pair of pins 12 at opposite sides of the tire.Each 5 device comprises a pair of screws I4 having crank handles 16 andtraverse blocks 18. The devices 'are placed at opposite sides of thecasing with the traverse blocks 18 engaged with the pins 12.

"Ihatraverse screws are then rotated to draw the blocks 18 and hence thesplit ends EE of the casing toward each other. During movement 3 of'the'split ends of the casing toward each other, the sliding actionbetween the inner surface of the casing and the outer tread surface andwall portionsof the pneumatic tire is assisted by striking the treadsurfaces of the casing with mallets. The split ends of the casing aredrawn toward each other'until the walls of the pneumatic tire begin tonoticeably bulge, as shown -'in Fig; 10 at b. At this point the drawingis discontinued and the pneumatic tire is wholly or partially deflatedby allowing the air therein to escape. Following this the screws arethen rotated again to draw the split ends E toward each other until theyare in abutting engage- When the split thereto by bolts inaccordance-with the aforementioned pending applications, are secured -tohold the abutting ends of the casing together. The screws are thenrotated in the reverse direction to slack up on the blocks 18, whereuponthey are removed from the pins 12 and then the plates 10 are pulled fromthe slots. The pneumatic tire is then reinflated to its originalpressure, whereupon by means of a mallet and/or-a prying device thetread sections T (Fig. 9) of the casing are forced along the treadportion oi the pneumatic tire so that they will occupy'substantiallyequal spacings throughout. a

It should be understood that the present disclosure is for the purposeof illustration only and that this invention includes all modificationsand equivalents which fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Iclaim: V 1 1. A method of assembling an anti-skid casing on a normallyinflated pneumatic tire,'said' casing having been previously prepared bycutting slots transversely of its tread, the end portions of whichextend radially inward along thewalls of the casing and the casing beingsplit entirely across at one point, comprising-the steps or spreadingthe walls of the split casing and placing it on the inflated tire,drawing the splitends toward each other until the wall of the inflatedtire begins to bulge noticeably, deflating the pneumatic tire, drawingthe split ends intocontact on the deflated tire, securing theends withfastening elements, and then reinflating the pneumatic tire. r

2. A method of assembling an anti-skid casing on a normally inflatedpneumatic tire; said casing having been previously prepared-by cuttingslots transversely of its tread to'pr'ovidle spaced, transverselyextending tread portions and the casing being split entirely across atone point, comprising the steps of spreading the walls of the splitcasing and placingit on the inflated'tire, drawing the split ends,toward each other until the walls of the inflated tire begin to bulgenoticeably, deflating the pneumatic tire, drawing the split ends intocontact on the deflated tire, securing the ends with fastening means,reinflating the pneumatic tire andflthen shifting the individual treadportions between the slots around the tire until theyare substantiallyequally spaced. 3. A method of assembling an anti-skid casing on anormally inflated pneumatic tire, [said casing having been previouslyprepared "by cutting slots transversely of its tread, the end portionsof which extend radially inward along the walls of the casing and thecasing beingsplit'entirely across at one point, comprising the stepsofapplying a lubricant to the tread andjwalls of. the inflated tire,spreading the walls of the split casing and applying it to the inflatedtire, drawing the split ends toward eachother until the walls of theinflated tire begin to bulge noticeably, deflating the pneumatic tire,drawing, the split ends into contact on the deflated tire, securing theends with fastening elements andthen reinflating the pneumatic tire. l4. A method of assembling an anti-skid casing on a normally inflatedpneumatic tire, said casing having been previously prepared by cuttingslots transversely of its tread, the end portions of which extendradially inward along the walls of the casing and the casing being splitentirely across at one point, comprising the steps of applying a thickcoating of heavyoil to the ,lpneuinatictire'. I

{LIA method of assembling an anti-skidcasing split-to provide" endsseparable to permit circumferential distention of the". casing on anormally inflat d pi eulhatic' tire comprising spread- 1mg ,thewallsofthe casing and applying it to tread and walls of the inflated tire,spreading the walls of the, split casing and placing it ,on.theiinfiated 'tire, drawing the split'ends toward each other until thewalls of the, inflated tire begin to bulge noticeably, deflating thepneumatic tire, drawing the split ends into contact'on the deflatedtire,securing the ends with fastening --elements' andthen reinflating thepneumatic tire.=:

-. .5.' -A ,method of assembling an anti-skid casing on a normallyinflated pneumatic tire, comprising thesteps of preparing acasing of thesame size as the pneumatic tire to which it is to be appliedby cuttingslotstransverselyoft its tread,

theend: portions of which extend radially along the walls of thecasingand the casing being split entirely, across atone point, spreading thewalls of the split casing and applying it to the inflated tire,initially drawing the split ends toward each other until the inflatedtire begins to bulge, de-

flating the tire, finally drawing the split ends into contact on thedeflated tire, securing the ends with fastening. elements and then rein-Ifl atingthe pneumatic tire.

, ,6. ,A method of assembling an anti-skid casing on a normally inflatedpneumatic tire, comprising the steps of preparing a casing by cuttingslots transversely of its tread, the end portions voi which extendradially inward along the walls .otthecasing, splitting the casingentirely across atone point, spreading the walls of the split casing andplacing it on the inflated tire, said casing. being so selected thatwhen placed on the inflated tire the split ends are approximately,inchesapart, drawing the split ends toward each other until the wallsof the inflated tire begin -to bulge noticeably, deflating the pneu-,ma'tic tire', drawing the split ends into engagement on' thedeflate'dtire, securing the endswith fastening' elements", and then reinflatingthe the inflatedtire, placing a plate having a stud 'ther'e'on'betweenthe casing and "tire with the stud extending throughthe wall of, thecasing from-the inside outwardly, there being one at each side and ateach split end of, the casing, contracting the casing about the tire bydrawing the ends thereof toward each other from a spacing ofapproximately 10 to 12 inches to a spacing "of approximately 4 to 6incheswhile the tire "is stillinilated, defiating'the tire, drawing theends toward each other again until the split ends of the casing abut,and bridging the abuttingends' withiastening means at each side.

8; Aimetliod' of assembling an anti-skid casing "split to provide endsseparable to permit eircum- J Ierential distention of the'ca'sing on anormally inflated tire" comprising spreading the walls of :the casingand applying it to the tire; placing a 'platehaving a studthereon'betw'een the casing and tire so that its stud extends throughthe wall of the casing from the inside outwardly,

there being one at each side and at each split end of the casing,applying to each pair of studs blocks carried by'a common screw,rotation of which will draw the blocks toward each other,

rotating the screws to drawthe blocks toward each other until thespacing between the split ends of the casing is approximately 4 to 6inches -while thetire is still inflated, deflating the'tire,

again drawing the studs towardeach other until 8 the split ends of thecasing are abutting; bridging the abutting-ends with fasteningelementsat eachside, removing the studs and screws and reinflating the'tire; 1 Y

9. A method of assembling an anti-skidjcasing split to provide-endsseparable to permit circumferential distention of the casingon-a-normal1y inflated pneumatic tire comprising the steps of preparinga casing by cutting slots transversely of its tread totprovide spacedtread sections,

spreading-the walls of the casing and applying it to the inflated tire,placing a plate, having a stud thereon betweenthe casing andtire sothatthe stud extends through the wall of the casing from the insideoutwardly, at each side and at each split end of the casing, applyingstretching means'to the studs to draw the ends of the casing toward eachother, progressively drawing the split ends towardeach other andwhile'so drawing them shifting individual tread sections between theslots alongthe tread of the-tireuntil the split ends are approximately 4to dinches apart, deflatingthe tire, drawing the split ends intoabutting engagement, joining, the abutting ends with'fastening elementsconsisting of inner and-outer link plates jo'nied to eachother bythroughbolts passing through the walls of the casing and then reinflating thetire.

10. In a machine for makinganti-skid casings,

-a plurality of dies arranged annularly about a common center, a supportfor the easing and means for efiecting ,movement of thedies and supportto mash the casing fiat against the-support so that the-walls'coincideand the treadis bent double upon itself and then to cut througli thedouble thickness, eachdie, having U-shaped radially extending wallsterminating at their lower ends in'cutting edges, said cutting edgesoriginating between the bead and ,the-tread and extending beyondtheouter extremity of the bent tread so as to sever from the-casing piecesleaving symmetrical openings therein and adeflec-tor situatedbetween-the parallel walls rising ,from' each die, havingradiallyextending cutting edges originating between the bead and the" tread andextending beyond the outer extremity of the bent tread so as to severfrom the casing pieces leaving symmetrical openings therein and aninclined deflector situated-between the parallel walls ;of thecutterrisingirom its innerclosed end upwardly and outwardly therefrom.

l2. In a'machine for making anti-skid casings comprising a pluralityot-U-shaped dies arranged annularly about a common center, said dieshaving parallel walls closed at one end and open atthe-otheig-a supportfor the casing and means for effecting movement ofthe dies andgsupportto mash the casing flat against the support so that the wallscoincideand the tread is bent double upon itselfandt-hen to cutthroughthe double thickness, each die having radially extending cutting"edges at the lower extremity of the walls-originating between the beadandithe tread and extending beyond the outer extremity of the bent treadso as to sever from the casing pieces leaving symmetrical openingstherein, and an inclined deflector in each die, the lower end of whichis vertically spaced from the inner closed end of the cutting edge by anamount at least equal to twice the casing wall thickness and which risestherefrom upwardly and outwardly toward the open end.

CHESTER R. KENNEDY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 72,903 Rathbone Dec. 31, 186'?Number Number Name Date Hennig Feb. 1, 1916 Freeman Sept. 6, 1921 ComeyMar. 30, 1926 Leguillon July 29, 1930 Frederick Feb. 24, 1931 MacDonaldOct. 23, 1934 Benoit et a1. Apr. 21, 1936 Gregory et a1. Jan. 5, 1937Nelson Apr. 6, 1937 Bolling Aug. 13, 1940 Knudsen Mar. 30, 1943 WendelMar. 28, 1944 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date France May 24, 1937

1. A METHOD OF ASSEMBLING AN ANTI-SKID CASTING ON A NORMALLY INFLATED PNEUMATIC TIRE, SAID CASING HAVING BEEN PREVIOUSLY PREPARED BY CUTTING SLOTS TREANSVERSELY OF ITS TREAD, THE END PORTIONS OF WHICH EXTEND RADIALLY INWARD ALONG THE WALLS OF THE CASTING AND THE CASING BEING SPLIT ENTIRELY ACROSS AT ONE POINT, COMPRISING THE STEPS OF SPREADING THE WALLS OF THE SPLIT CASING AND PLACING IT ON THE INFLATED TIRE, DRAWING THE SPLIT ENDS TOWARD EACH OTHER UNTIL THE WALL OF THE INFLATED TIRE BEGINS TO BULGE NOTICEABLY, DEFLATING THE PNEUMATIC TIRE, DRAWING THE SPLIT ENDS INTO CONTACT ON THE DEFLATED TIRE, SECURING THE ENDS WITH FASTENING ELEMENTS, AND THEN REINFLATING THE PNEUMATIC TIRE.
 10. IN A MACHINE FOR MAKING ANTI-SKID CASINGS, A PLURALITY OF DIES ARRANGED ANNULARLY ABOUT A COMMON CENTER, A SUPPORT FOR THE CASING AND MEANS FOR EFFECTING MOVEMENT OF THE DIES AND SUPPORT TO MASH THE CASING FLAT AGAINST THE SUPPORT SO THAT THE WALLS COINCIDE AND THE TREAD IS BENT DOUBLE UPON ITSELF AND THEN TO CUT THROUGH THE DOUBLE THICKNESS, EACH DIE, HAVING U-SHAPED RADIALLY EXTENDING WALLS TERMINATING AT THEIR LOWER ENDS IN CUTTING EDGES, SAID CUTTING EDGES ORIGINATING BETWEEN THE BEAD AND THE TREAD AND EXTENDING BEYOND THE OUTER EXTREMITY OF THE BENT TREAD SO AS TO SEVER FROM THE CASING PIECES LEAVING SYMMETRICAL OPENINGS THEREIN AND A DEFLECTOR SITUATED BETWEEN THE PARALLEL WALLS RISING FROM THE INNER CLOSED CUTTING EDGE, FOR EXPELLING THE SEVERED PIECE AS IT SPRINGS FREE UPON SEVERANCE OUTWARDLY FROM BETWEEN THE WALLS OF THE DIE. 